Our immune system is designed to keep us from getting sick and is critical for survival.

The immune system is a network of organs, special tissues, cells, and proteins that communicate and work together to provide an immune response to protect our bodies.

It is designed to keep out unhealthy invaders like pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and worms as well as environmental threats like chemical pollution and environmental toxins.

A healthy immune system can differentiate between foreign invaders and our own healthy tissue; a healthy immune system reacts in a balanced, healthy way.

An underactive immune system (immunodeficiency) may result in recurring infections. As we age, our immune systems weaken and it’s easier for us to get infectious diseases.

A hyperactive immune system overreacts to foreign materials or organisms, (allergens or antigens); it may result in the development of allergies, asthma or eczema.

A hyperactive immune system may also identify tissue in one’s own body as foreign and mistakenly attack it, resulting in an autoimmune disease.

The Immune System – An Oversimplified View

The Skin
Physical barriers like the skin are the first line of defense, keeping unwanted organisms or toxins from entering the body. Breaks in this barrier (cuts, burns) make us more vulnerable.

Foreign material can bypass the first line of defense by entering other ways, like through nail beds, vaginal and urinary tract, nose, eyes and mouth. Every time we eat food, we are exposed to toxins, foreign antigens and microbes.

The Gut
The GI tract is an absolutely essential part of our immune system.

Stomach acid creates a hostile environment for pathogens since they usually cannot survive in such an acidic environment. Continual use of antacids is a concern as it interferes with this protection. Also, as we age, there is a decrease in the acidity of the stomach.

A large proportion of the immune cells in our body are located in the gut. These immune cells attack and remove many foreign invaders before they penetrate further into our bodies. (The digestive tract’s immune system is referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue or GALT.)

Protease enzymes break down many pathogens in the gut.

Mucus in the lining of our GI tract is like a second skin. It helps repel foreign invaders and helps keep them from getting across the gut barrier and into the blood, lymph, and ultimately, interior cells.

Imbalance and overgrowth of intestinal flora and the toxins they produce (e.g., yeast) can inflame and compromise the mucosal lining; if the pathogenic organisms are able to get past this mucosal barrier they can establish themselves on the deeper surface lining of the GI tract. Once they have established this foothold the junctions in the gut often become less tight and the gut becomes abnormally permeable. This allows the foreign invaders (pathogenic microbes and toxins) and larger than normal macromolecules to leak through, hence the name, “leaky gut syndrome.” It is believed by many medical scientists that these out-of-place substances initiate an immune response which can have adverse effects on overall health.

Food may inflame the gut if you have intolerance or sensitivity. A chronic inflammation may also compromise the mucosal barrier and contribute to the development of a “leaky gut.”

Stress affects the health of the GI tract which can adversely affect your immune function. There are millions of neurons in the gut (enteric nervous system) which produce neurohormones that communicate with the brain.

Respiratory System
After the GI tract, the respiratory tract has the body’s second-largest mucosal surface area.

The lining of the respiratory tract — nasopharynx, sinuses, lungs and bronchi, is also a barrier to germs, viruses and other harmful invaders. Many viruses use the host’s mucosal surfaces as their initial portal of infection.

Coughing and sneezing are mechanisms with which we eliminate foreign material.

The Innate Immune System
If pathogens make it through our first lines of defense and get into cells, the innate immune system, a non-specific generic immune response “kicks in.” The injured cells produce chemicals (cytokines) some of which produce an inflammatory response and others which “recruit” white blood cells to the injured site.

Enzymes which break down proteins (proteases) work with antibodies to attack the foreign cells. Many types of white blood cells go into action to eliminate the pathogens, often by engulfing them and killing them. There are also natural killer cells that destroy our own cells that have been damaged by the pathogens.

The innate immune system does not retain a memory of its experience (it does not confer immunity). This system does not result in better protection the next time the same pathogen invades the body.

The Adaptive Immune System
If the pathogens are not thwarted by the innate immune system, then the adaptive immune system goes into action. It is targeted toward that particular pathogen and even retains a “memory” of the pathogen, ready and stronger for it in case it comes back. (Vaccines work with the adaptive immune system.)

The adaptive immune system works through antibody formation.

What Can You Do to Support Your Immune System?

Eat a healthy diet — high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods with probiotics. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants like flavonoids which are concentrated in their pigments. Think “rainbow” colors. Look for purples, blues, reds, oranges and yellows. Foods that are eaten raw or lightly cooked will retain more of the antioxidants. These foods are also rich in enzymes.
Incorporate recipes with cooked mushrooms into your diet. Edible mushrooms have potent compounds like beta glucans, glycoproteins and natural antibiotics that provide immune support.

Follow practices that reduce the risk of exposure to pathogens and toxins – cook meats and poultry thorougly, don’t eat raw dairy products like raw cheeses, wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and use a separate cutting board for cutting up raw chicken, meat or fish.

Limit psychological and emotional stress – easier said than done but it’s widely accepted that there’s a close relationship between body and mind. It’s thought that stress may affect the immune system by disrupting the chemical messages sent between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Stress hormones (cortisol and other glucocorticoids secreted by the adrenal glands) are released when under stress. These stress hormones have numerous effects on the immune system.

Avoid infection as much as possible – wash hands regularly especially if you are interacting with people who are sick.

Take dietary supplements that maintain or restore the gut lining, support a healthy microbial ecosystem and have anti-microbial properties.

Nutrition Supplements for Everyday Living and Your Immune System

Botanicals – such as boswellia and curcumin (the active component of turmeric) help reduce inflammation of the gut and respiratory linings.

Therapeutic Enzymes –certain proteolytic enzymes (proteases) which when bound to alpha-2 macroglobulin are capable of digesting the protein matrix or protein coating of pathogens (viruses, yeast, fungi, bacteria, parasites) in the blood. This exposes the organism to degradation. The proteases also promote cellular repair and recovery.

L-lysine – an essential amino acid that exhibits antiviral properties and may reduce severity or frequency of outbreaks of cold sores and Herpes simplex.

Probiotics – help maintain the balance of a healthy intestinal microflora and support the maintenance of a healthy gut lining.

Double Helix Water – preliminary research has suggested the possibility of it having antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Live blood studies of patients with autoimmune diseases show improvement in the quality of red blood cells.

Vitamin D3 (calcitriol) – the hormonally active/natural form of vitamin D that can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Some types of white blood cells may communicate with each other through calcitriol. Preliminary research suggests that vitamin D in proper proportions may lessen the impact of infection and autoimmunity on health. Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with increased risk for respiratory illness. The skin can synthesize vitamin D3 when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays but aging and sunscreen reduce the ability of the body to produce D3. Have your physician check your Vitamin D blood levels.

Lymphatic System – like a secondary circulatory system. Lymphatic vessels transport lymph fluid back from the tissues to the circulatory system. Part of the immune system, it works in concert with white blood cells in lymph nodes to protect the body from cancer cells, fungi, viruses or bacteria.

Leukocytes – white blood cells. They are involved in phagocytosis which engulfs and kills invading organisms and in releasing chemical mediators and antibodies.